Minnesota Registered Agent
What is a Minnesota registered agent?
A Minnesota registered agent receives legal mail and service of process on behalf of a business. Appointing a registered agent in Minnesota guarantees that you’ll never miss a critical document or state reminder about your business and keeps your home address off the public record.
What Does a Minnesota Registered Agent Do?
Your Minnesota registered agent accepts service of process and other legal mail for your business and notifies you so that you can take action. They serve as a public point of contact for your business at your registered office address, which must be a complete street address and not a P.O. Box or mailbox service.
What is service of process?
Service of process is the procedure someone must follow to notify a person or business that legal action involving them has begun. For a business, this procedure requires delivering legal documents to the business’s registered agent. Once the registered agent receives the documents, the business is legally considered “served.”
Do I Need a Minnesota Registered Agent?
Yes. Minnesota law says that all business entities are required to maintain a registered office and foreign entities must have a registered agent.
While the Minnesota Secretary of State acts as the default agent for service of process for domestic businesses who do not designate a registered agent of their own, appointing a registered agent in the North Star State ensures that time-sensitive legal mail won’t get lost or held up with the state.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Minnesota?
Yes, you can be your own registered agent as long as you live in Minnesota. However, there are some drawbacks to doing so:
- You’ll have to list your street address on the public record.
- You’ll risk being served lawsuits in front of clients or customers.
- If you move, you’ll have to pay to update your registered agent address with the state.
- You miss out on the perks offered by a professional registered agent, like free annual report filing and an operating agreement.
Should I be my own registered agent?
That depends on your risk tolerance. Minnesota’s Secretary of State records and publicly reports the name and address of a business’s registered agent on their Minnesota Business Filings Search. Choosing a commercial registered agent protects your privacy if you’re not comfortable having your name and business address broadcast, especially if you run your business out of your home.
Another important consideration is that service of process can only be received by your registered agent at their registered office. Do you plan to be available during all standard business hours? Service of process may fail if you’re out visiting clients, or on vacation. That means you could miss required court appearances and potentially face a default judgment against your business.
Who can be appointed as a registered agent in Minnesota?
The requirements to be a registered agent depend on whether you’re appointing a person or a business.
If you’re appointing a person, your registered agent must live in Minnesota and list their business office address as the registered office address—the physical address at which they’ll be present during business hours to receive mail and service of process.
You can also choose to appoint another business as your registered agent. This can be a corporation or limited liability company whose business office address is the same as the registered office address for your business. Out-of-state, or foreign, entities must be authorized to operate in Minnesota.
How Do I Appoint a Registered Agent?
New domestic entities formed in Minnesota may designate a registered agent on their formation paperwork—articles of incorporation for new corporations, or articles of organization for new Minnesota LLCs. Businesses from-out-of-state must designate a Minnesota registered agent when registering to do business in Minnesota.
Got 10 Minutes? We can form your business and include a year of Registered Agent service.
How do I change my registered agent in Minnesota?
You can file a notice of change with the Secretary of State to change your registered agent, or designate one if you elected not to in your formation documents.
How much does it cost to change my registered agent in Minnesota?
The cost to change your registered agent in Minnesota varies depending on your business type.
Minnesota businesses pay $55 to file a notice of change in person or after registering for an account online, or $35 to file by mail. This includes Minnesota corporations, LLCs, cooperatives, and nonprofits.
Most foreign businesses registered to do business in Minnesota pay $70 to file online or in person, and $50 to file by mail. Foreign LLCs are the exception. They still only pay $55 online or in person, or $35 by mail.
How do I file by mail or in person?
Make an appointment to file with the Minnesota Secretary of State, or submit all items together with your payment (remittable to the MN Secretary of State) to:
Minnesota Secretary of State – Business Services
First National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201
Saint Paul, MN 55101
- Online – the cost is $25 and is processed immediately.
- By Mail – the cost is only $10 but will take the state 30 working days to process plus 5 more days for return mailing.
What Can Registered Agents Inc Do for Me?
Registered Agents Inc provides peace of mind with top-shelf registered agent and other business services to keep you in good standing.
Nationwide, local offices
We maintain a brick-and-mortar office in every jurisdiction we serve. Whether you’re relocating or ready to expand your business, we’re ready to go with you.
Compliance filing
Our registered agent service includes annual renewal filing—you’ll only pay the state fee for your business type—so you’ll never miss your annual due-by date. We can also amend your articles of incorporation or organization and file your Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report, to keep you in compliance with state and federal regulations.
Human expertise
Our team of experts understands Minnesota business regulations, and we take pride in our superior customer service. When you call our number or respond to an email, there’s a real, live person on the other end ready to assist.
Instant access online account
When our agents receive documents, we upload them to your account for immediate viewing. From your account, you can manage your documents and decide how to respond. If you need help, our digital library of resources and forms is at your fingertips.
Business formation services
Registered Agents Inc offers a suite of entity management products to help you stand up your business. We’ll file your corporation and LLC formation documents, and provide business presence services like domain registration, website hosting, business email addresses, and business phone service to set you up for success.
We provide wholesale registered agent services if you’re interested in becoming a commercial registered agent!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a local registered agent in Minnesota?
You’ve found one! Our Minnesota registered agents are experts ready to save you time so you can get back to running your business.
If you’re trying to find the registered agent for a specific business, search for the company’s name in the Minnesota Business Filings Search. Select it from the list to view information including the name of its registered agent and its registered office location.
How much is a registered agent in Minnesota?
A Minnesota registered agent may charge an average of $49 to $300 every year. Registered Agents Inc costs $200 annually for our premier service, and filing your annual renewal is included.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Minnesota?
Starting a Minnesota LLC costs between $135 and $155 to form your business by filing your articles of organization. If you’re an out-of-state company seeking registration to do business in Minnesota, you’ll file a Minnesota Certificate of Authority for $205 online.
What is a Beneficial Ownership Information report?
This report identifies the people who directly or indirectly own or control a company. Effective January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act requires that companies report Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Qualifying businesses must submit this report by the following dates:
| Date Company Created or Registered: | Date BOI Report Due |
| Before 1 January, 2024 | No later than 1 January, 2025 |
| During 2024 | Within 90 calendar days of creation |
| After 1 January, 2025 | Within 30 calendar days of creation |
There are serious financial repercussions for failure to file, including civil and criminal penalties. Registered Agents Inc can help you determine your filing requirement and even file your BOI report for you.
